The Hon. PENNY SHARPE: My question without notice is addressed to the Attorney General. What is the latest information on Government initiatives to reduce the impact of fine debt on people?

The Hon. JOHN HATZISTERGOS: I thank the honourable member for her important question. Fines are generally a cost-effective and prompt way of punishing people for lower level infractions. But the system can cause unintended harm to disadvantaged people, such as the homeless, the mentally ill and the chronically poor. Such people often find it harder to understand or access procedures for challenging fines or asking for an extension of time to pay. When fines are not paid they are automatically progressed through the strict hierarchy of sanctions and their debt increases. There is also the related issue of secondary offending. This happens when people who have had their licence or registration suspended or cancelled because of fine defaults continue to drive, thereby committing a very serious offence.

Over the last year, the Government has brought in new reforms to assist disadvantaged people to manage fine debt. At the operational level, the Local Court and the State Debt Recovery Office have made significant administrative improvements, including clearer and more accessible information about procedures; simplified methods for applying for time to pay and flexible payment options like Centrepay. Last year the Government passed the Fines Further Amendment Bill 2008 with several new legislative reforms, including more flexible payment options, such as periodic deductions, clarifying that all enforcement officers can issue an official caution instead of a penalty notice for minor infractions, and making it clear that all government agencies can review penalty notices to ensure they were appropriately issued.

The bill also allowed for the introduction of the innovative new Work and Development Order Trial Scheme. A work development order allows vulnerable people to satisfy their fine debt through the performance of unpaid community work with an approved community organisation. Alternatively, they can complete educational, vocational or life skills courses, counselling, drug and alcohol treatment, or a mentoring program with an approved organisation. Under the two-year trial, which commenced on 10 July this year, 2,000 fine recipients experiencing acute hardship will be able to apply for a work and development order from the State Debt Recovery Office. However, people cannot just apply themselves. They need to have their application, including the proposed treatment or activities they will undertake, endorsed by their doctor, nurse, registered psychologist, or by the approved organisation which will be providing the treatment or unpaid work.

Accordingly, the first step in getting the scheme up and running has been to encourage suitable organisations to get accredited for participation. The response so far has been very encouraging. Since the commencement of the trial just two months ago, 17 organisations have been formally accredited. They include large charitable organisations, youth services, drug and alcohol services, neighbourhood centres, mental health service providers, and emergency accommodation and casework providers. These organisations come from a range of different areas across the State, including west and south-west Sydney, inner city Sydney, Sutherland shire, Central Coast, North Coast, Dubbo and Newcastle. A further 25 organisations have submitted applications for accreditation, and these are currently being processed. Six health practitioners have also submitted forms agreeing to supervise their patients' treatment in accordance with the reporting and record keeping requirements in the work and development order guidelines. Now that the scheme is up and running, with 17 community organisations accredited, and applications received from a further 25, we should soon see significant numbers of individuals given an opportunity to pay off their fine debts and hopefully turn their lives around.